Improvement in revolving ordnance



J. A. 113 'BBA'MB. mwommmmumuma.

Patented Dec. 24, 1861,

UNITED STATES J. A. DE BRAME, OF NEW-YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JEEP}.

PATENT OFFICE.

MIAH GURNEY.

lMPROVEMENT IN REVOLVING ORDNANCE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 34,024, dated December 24, 1861.

city, county, and State of New York, have inyented certain new and useful Improvements in Revolving Ordnance; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure l'is a central longitudinal vertical section of the many-chambered cylinder, the

barrel, and the cylinder-frame of a revolving cannon'constructed according'to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same, and Fig.2 av

top view of thesame.

Similar-letters of reference-indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A is the cylinder-frame, of quadrangular or other form, and of a size to receive the cylinder within it, and with the trunnions a a formed upon or permanently secured to its sides.

. G is the cylinder, constructed like themanychambered cylinders of small-arms-that is to say, with the chambers 00 parallel with and at equaldistances from its axis, and at equal dis tances apart, and bored centrally throughout for the reception of the axis-pin B, which passes through the frame A; This, pin is made with a head, I), of conical or other shape, which is received within the front portion of the frame, and preventedfrom turning therein by a trans verse key, e, and the said pin is provided'with a screw-thread at its otherend, which protrudes through the rear portion of the frame and receives a nut, d, which secures the pin in place. The axis-pin thus applied and secured is made to constitute a central brace to prevent the frame being sprung by the recoil in firing.

E is the barrel, screwed into or otherwise firmly secured to the front of the frame directly below the axis-pin B.

F is thebreech-screw, applied to screw through a tapped hole in the rear of the frame, with its axis directly'iu line with the axis of the barrel,

and furnished at its outer end with a lever or handle, f, by which to turn it. This screw may screw up directly against the rear of the cylinder, in which case, if the chambers are bored and if any fragments should at its innerend with a head large enough, to close the rear ends of the chambers like a valve; or the said screw may have interposed between it and the cylinder a loose disk, G, as shown in Fig. 1, for the purpose of closin g the rear ends of the chambers, the said disk being kept in place by being fitted to a countersunk recess formed around the inner orifice of the screwhole in the frame.

The front face of the disk G, or the end of the screw when the latter is used to close the rear ends of the chambers, may be made conical or of other form to enter into counters-inks of corresponding form in the rear ends of the chambers, or may be flat to abut against the end of the cylinder, as represented in Fig. 1.

The vent g is made through the screw F and 'disk G, and a nipple is to be provided at the outer end of the screw for the percussion-cap.

reception of a The screw F is screwed up after every movement of the cylinder about its axis to present a new chamber in line with the barrel, and by that means is made to force the cylinder up tight against the front of the frame A or against the barrel, to make a tight joint between it and the barrel, and at the same time, if the chambers are bored through the rear of the cylinder, the screw E is made to close the rear of and constitute a breech to that chamber which is line with the barrel, being applied directly opposite to" the barrel, and to the chamber that is in linetherewith,

and, in condition, for firing the said screw opcrates more effectually than a screw or'other device applied to the axis-pin or applied in any other way in connection with the cylinder. Before attempting to rotate the cylinder after firing to present a new chamber in line with the barrel the screw F must be turned back a short distance to liberate the cylinder.

By the arrangement of the barrel below the axis-pin of the cylinder, and thereby bringing the operating-chamber to the lowest position, the danger to the aitillerymen from the bursting of the said chamber is greatly lessened,

for the rupture, taking place at the weakest point-via, the point nearest the periphery of the cylinder-will be in a downward direction, be thrown in a through the rear of the cylinder, as represented, it must be made large enough, or be furnished lateral direction the sides of the frame A will constitute an eflicient protection;

I-do not claim broadly the employment of a screw to force the revolvingcylinder against the barrel.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the screw F, construoted'. as set forth, so as to serve as nipplevent and cylinder-presser, with the frame A and revolving ohamberO, all as herein set forth.

2. The combination of the perforated disk G with the said screw- F, frame A, and cylinder 0,

as herein set forth. 7 I

. i J. A. DE BRAME.

, Witnesses:

J AMEs LAIBD, RICHARDSON GAWLEY. 

